From Bougainville to Hue; one Marine’s journey through war

Published: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 05:01 PM.

Leaving World War II and returning home was by far the best part of the war but peacetime wouldn’t last forever, he said.

“I knew what combat was after World War II, and I wasn’t excited about going to Korea or Vietnam,” Gagnon said. “I knew friends would die. I knew I’d see things I didn’t want to see. That’s just what war is.”

While serving as a gunnery sergeant in Kore,a Gagnon was in charge of an artillery unit of 105 and 155 millimeter howitzers. During the battle for Hue City he provided artillery support, calling hundreds of fire missions, he said.

“Korea was very different,” he said. “World War II — there was always something happening. In Korea you could go a month without something happen. It was the strangest thing ever.”

After surviving two wars, Gagnon wished his days in combat were over. But when Vietnam began, he volunteered to go overseas.

“People respected my experience because very few people had been where I had been,” Gagnon said. “Even with my experience I was surprised that Vietnam was as quiet as it was. Sure you could hear gunshots in the distance, but for the most part it wasn’t what I was used to.”

After 32 years and three wars Gagnon said he would still do it all over again.

“Combat is hell on wheels each and every single time,” said the 88-year-old retired Marine master gunnery sergeant. “And going into combat means you pay a price whether you live or die. No matter what, it’s going to cost you something.”

Gagnon’s 32-year Marine Corps career began in June 1942 when he left New Bedford, Mass., and attended recruit training at Parris Island, S.C., with his parents’ blessing.

“The drill instructors put you through the paces,” Gagnon said. “Either you make it or you break it. Some people got to the point where they couldn’t take it anymore. They got sent home and you never heard from them again.”

After graduation Gagnon was shipped to the Pacific where he trained for upcoming missions on the battlegrounds of Guadalcanal. After nearly a month of training he was sent to the battle of Bougainville as an artillery forward observer within the second wave to land.

“When we got about 800 yards from the shore they started coming at us one-by-one,” he said. “Once we took them out, we had it fairly easy compared to the rest of them boys. ...We more or less mopped everything up after the first wave went through.”

After Bougainville the Marines were loaded back up on ship and were sent to the battle of Guam.

“It was more or less pure hell,” the Jacksonville resident said. “Guam was more open compared to Bougainville, which was strictly jungle. You weren’t tripping over stumps and you could see more than 200 feet in front of you. ...As long as we operated there, it was just horrible.”

Gagnon served as a forward observer.

“We crawled quite a bit being right up front,” he said. “Calling for artillery, I knew I was helping to keep the other men safe.”

Machine guns were the Americans’ best friend, he said, adding that the Japanese “stupidly” ran across open fields toward them and were picked off one-by-one.

“The anxiety of waiting for the enemy to hit was the worst part,” Gagnon said. “You don’t know where they are going to hit or with what strength. In reality you never knew what you were going to be up against.”

The worst part of World War II for Gagnon was watching five of his “boot camp buddies” get killed right in front of him, he said.

“It’s something I don’t think I will ever forget,” Gagnon said. “I have really bad memories of them being wiped out. I wish I could forget it — I wish they’d leave me already.”

Leaving World War II and returning home was by far the best part of the war but peacetime wouldn’t last forever, he said.

“I knew what combat was after World War II, and I wasn’t excited about going to Korea or Vietnam,” Gagnon said. “I knew friends would die. I knew I’d see things I didn’t want to see. That’s just what war is.”

While serving as a gunnery sergeant in Kore,a Gagnon was in charge of an artillery unit of 105 and 155 millimeter howitzers. During the battle for Hue City he provided artillery support, calling hundreds of fire missions, he said.

“Korea was very different,” he said. “World War II — there was always something happening. In Korea you could go a month without something happen. It was the strangest thing ever.”

After surviving two wars, Gagnon wished his days in combat were over. But when Vietnam began, he volunteered to go overseas.

“People respected my experience because very few people had been where I had been,” Gagnon said. “Even with my experience I was surprised that Vietnam was as quiet as it was. Sure you could hear gunshots in the distance, but for the most part it wasn’t what I was used to.”

After 32 years and three wars Gagnon said he would still do it all over again.

“To me it was all worth it,” Gagnon said. “I fought for our country. I fought for our freedoms.

“Somewhere along the lines someone will get killed but it’s all for the greater good. It’s for the greatest country in the world — the United States of America.”

If you or someone you know served in World War II, contact Military Reporter Thomas Brennan at 910-219-8453 or thomas.brennan@jdnews.com . Follow him on Twitter @ thomasjbrennan.